Tattoos and the military...

[mamdbdylan]

I was wondering and have not gotten any useful feedback about a tattoo i got when i was younger. It was my first tattoo and it is on my right forearm. It is a color picture of the THC molecule structure.

I have been planing to join the military for as long as i can recall, i once started talking to recruiters but since then stopped. I always wanted to be a Marine but got disqualified because of my tattoos, not necessarily the THC one because he didnt know what it was but because i have more than 4 visible in PT uniform (shorts and T-shirt) and one of my tattoos is closer than 2inches from my wrist.

I have heard the army uses the "rubberband rule" but was curious about my THC tattoo. If i lie and tell the army recruiter that it is just a picture i drew that represents "life" or "science" and how everything is made up of simple things such as molecules and atoms will he find out?

Will he know that i am full of shit and find out it is the THC molecule?
Will he even care if it was the THC molecule?

I know when you join they take pictures of all your tattoos and you have to give explinations on every one and im just worried that after being denied from the Marines that the Army will also no accept me.

If that is the case then i have been planning a false future and i just dont know what to do at the moment..

I dont want to just tell them it is a drug related tattoo and get disqualified but i also dont want to lie and have them find out...

 

[scureto1]

The stuff in the quote box below is from AR 670-1, the Army regulation document that governs all of the Army's rules about the wearing of the uniforms and personal appearances. Judging from this, your tattoo should be okay. No "rubber band" rule in the Army - the stuff in this list is their Bible. An amendment to this policy was added in 2005:

"(A)). TATTOOS THAT ARE NOT EXTREMIST, INDECENT, SEXIST OR RACIST ARE ALLOWED ON THE HANDS AND NECK. INITIAL ENTRY DETERMINATIONS WILL BE MADE ACCORDING TO CURRENT GUIDANCE."

That amendment made it so tattoos on the hands are okay, as long as they aren't extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist. Army policies are a lot more geared towards maintaining order and discipline than they are towards promoting a "clean" image, so I really doubt that the THC molecule would be a problem. They do care about presenting a professional image to the public, but I think your tattoo is cryptic enough that it would not be a problem for that. They just want to keep out things that could cause potential problems in a unit, like sexual harassment, racial problems, gangster shit, etc. A pot leaf MIGHT be an issue to some, but I really don't think the molecule will be.

When you deal with the recruiter and eventually with MEPS, just stick with your science story - or claim to be a biochemistry nerd and say its dopamine or something. They aren't going to know the structure of dopamine or THC, they aren't going to know you, they don't know the first thing about you so they have no reason to doubt you. They're not out to "get" you or judge you, they don't care enough about you for that, they just want to get you recruited, while making sure they followed the policies so that their asses are covered. The absolute worst thing that could happen is that you run into someone at MEPS who recognizes it and calls you out on your lie - then you just laugh and blush and say you wanted to make a good impression.

If they do disqualify you after finding out, then you would have been disqualified anyway for telling them. They aren't going to disqualify you as a "punishment" for trying to slip by.

(1) Tattoos or brands anywhere on the head, face, and neck above the class A uniform collar are prohibited.
(2) Tattoos or brands that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist are prohibited, regardless of location on the body,
as they are prejudicial to good order and discipline within units.
(a) Extremist tattoos or brands are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations,
or activities. Extremist philosophies, organizations, and activities are those which advocate racial, gender or
ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity,
religion, or national origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the U.S.
Constitution, Federal, or State law (see para 4–12, AR 600–20).
(b) Indecent tattoos or brands are those that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety; shock the moral
sense because of their vulgar, filthy, or disgusting nature or tendency to incite lustful thought; or tend reasonably to
corrupt morals or incite libidinous thoughts.
(c) Sexist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender,
but that may not meet the same definition of “indecent.”
(d) Racist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race,
ethnicity, or national origin.

 

[scureto1]

You can start talking to them now - its up to you how fast the enlistment process goes, and there's a few things you have to do before you go to MEPS. MEPS is where they will drug test you. The first thing you'll have to do is take the ASVAB, if you haven't already, and that might take a couple days or weeks to get scheduled. So if you stop smoking now and start talking to the recruiter now, you can put off MEPS until you know you're clean. Just exercise and drink a lot of water and once you think you're clean, try one of those drug tests you can buy at Walgreens to make sure.

 

[alasdairm]

I know when you join they take pictures of all your tattoos and you have to give explinations on every one...

who told you that? nothing i can find (admittedly, online) suggests this is the case. the army tattoo policy is, paraphrased, "Tattoos that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist in nature are prohibited, regardless of location on the body."

...and im just worried that after being denied from the Marines that the Army will also no accept me.

you were denied entry to the marines specifically because of your tattoo(s)?

alasdair

 

[scureto1]

The Marines and, oddly, the Coast Guard, have the strictest policies on tattoos of any branch.

 

[mamdbdylan]

The Marines didnt accept me because i have more than 4 visible in PT uniform and one of them is closer thatn 2inches from my wrist. That is their policy i guess, the recruiter only talked to me for about 5 min and said "sorry theres nothing i can do for you"

 

[alasdairm]

^ so what did the army recruiter say about your tattoos?

alasdair

 

[mamdbdylan]

have not met them in person yet :/
I was kinda thinking about getting my hair cut and freshing up a bit before i go that route, i currently look like a straight up pot head with long hair and tie die shirts...

haha figured i would make a good impression when i end up going ya know

 

[mamdbdylan]

Well, I ended up calling the recruiters office today and I'm going to go in there tomorrow morning. Skip the haircut haha I could really care less what these recruiters think about me. It is about to snow so i will have long sleeves on for sure. Just hoping that if the tattoos come up that it goes smoothly.

I told him i didnt want to sign up right away but soon, and he said even then i wouldnt be going anywhere until about may. So I have stopped smoking and hope that no drug testing comes up soon, but even if it does I have the right to refuse until I am actually signed up so I'm not to worried about it.

Not to sure about how this first meeting will go or what will go on but i hope everything goes smoothly, i know he will ask me if i have any questions but off the top of my head i really dont have anything to ask him. I know a few hours after i leave though i will be thinking of all the things i should of said/done/asked..

But oh well, I have to start somewhere so here it goes...

 

[mamdbdylan]

Well, I just got back from the recruiter meeting. It went VERY well in my opinion.

The tattoo thing came up but nobody asked about the molecule, the just quickly looked at my tats and said "wow you have alot". I know in the future there is paperwork to fill out about my tattoos so im not to worried about it the recruiters were very cool.

Im just waiting for my criminal record to get checked to see if my marijuana possesion is still on my record from when i was 13 or 14. If it is still there I can't join. If it is clear I'm good to go.

It was funny he was like "man you look like you smoke a ton of weed, u sure you dont smoke?" LMAO I told him i am clean (which i am not) but he dosent know that. I told him its a possibilty i could be dirty because a few of my friends have dropped dirty for 3 or 4 months straight and he told me to get 2 gallons of water and drink it till its gone hahahahahha.

One common saying out of his mouth was "Now I'm not telling you to lie, but if you want to get in...." haha

So now I'm just waiting to see if my past drug charge has been taken off my record and I will be going from there.

 

[scureto1]

See? No need to be so nervous about recruiters - they aren't parents, or principals, or anything like that. They don't want to catch you or give you hell or judge you or any of that shit. They just want to recruit you, preferably without any drama for you or for them He just asks about the weed thing because he doesn't want to waste his time or yours if you're not going to pass the drug test, not because he wants to catch you.

If that drug charge was from when you were 13 or 14 and you're over 18 now, it should not be there anymore. Anything criminal history from when you were a minor is sealed when you become an adult.

 

[Folley]

Anything criminal history from when you were a minor is sealed when you become an adult.

...even murder?



good luck man, I wish you the best. Your story is a lot like mine, Ive been planing on being a Marine since I was 8, if something happened that made it so I couldnt join... I wouldnt know what to do. My life would pretty much be over... as sad as that may sound.


Oorah and Semper Fi, and thank you for wanting to protect this country.
Remember, your not fighting for our (corrupt) Government, your fighting for the American people

 

[mamdbdylan]

See? No need to be so nervous about recruiters - they aren't parents, or principals, or anything like that. They don't want to catch you or give you hell or judge you or any of that shit. They just want to recruit you, preferably without any drama for you or for them He just asks about the weed thing because he doesn't want to waste his time or yours if you're not going to pass the drug test, not because he wants to catch you.

If that drug charge was from when you were 13 or 14 and you're over 18 now, it should not be there anymore. Anything criminal history from when you were a minor is sealed when you become an adult.

Yeah i was really overthinking it, maybe it was from the last recruiter i talked to was pretty much a cocky ass hole, but he was a Marine recruiter not army...

And i know that it is sealed but from what i understand the military, fbi, cia etc. can see EVERYTHING. Not like if a job was looking at your criminal record.

 

[scureto1]

Yeah i was really overthinking it, maybe it was from the last recruiter i talked to was pretty much a cocky ass hole, but he was a Marine recruiter not army...

And i know that it is sealed but from what i understand the military, fbi, cia etc. can see EVERYTHING. Not like if a job was looking at your criminal record.

You're really going to be stunned at how LITTLE the military can keep track of, it can be a real clusterfuck sometimes. I can't speak for the CIA, but the FBI and the mlitary operate within the confines of the law when they're in the USA, so if your record is sealed, they can't see it.

Haha and you're right about the murder thing Folley. I didn't know about that but I checked it after you said that. Makes sense though

 

[Jerry Atrick]

To the OP, I recently saw a headline saying that the US army was considering making their tattoo rules more strict. I didn't read the article so I don't know if they are still mulling the issue or if they have already officially decided to do this. I guess you'll find out at MEPS.

 

[itscoredawg]

I was in the US Army and when I joined I had two tattoos. One of them was of a naked lady. I went to MEPS and yes, they take note of every tattoo you have and you have to write down a description of each one. (Now of course I know sometimes some MEPS do things just slightly different.)
They told me I need to have it covered up...but that's all I ever heard of it.

The Army is pretty damn relaxed on tattoos, but just like Jerry^^ stated, they are definitely making things more strict. They're talking about cutting down the size of the force to the smallest it's been in over 20 years.

But if you have done MEPs, as I guess you have now, you can get as many tattoos as you want...no one cares. But of course no face, neck, or hands.

 

[8L4YN3]

why the hell would you want to join the american military? Couldn't find a worse way to spend the next few years of my life if i tried.. your nuts. Hope you enjoy being ordered to kill people in a country your country invaded... I'm sure that's going to feel you with pride for years and years... nuts fucking nuts.

 

[rangrz]

I am not sure on the US policies. Up here, any tattoo which not racist/sexist/offensive like a swear word/etc is fine. They are not grounds for any discrimination, even if visible. (nor are piercings, but piercings must be removed while in Uniform) But I am taking it from reading US policy is different. I have one small tat, and its visible in any uniform with short sleeves, never caused me a problem, even though it could be taken to be offensive. (Blood type over left elbow, which is most famous for being commonish in the Waffen-SS.. but I'm no Nazi, I just think its a cool tat.)

I doubt the recruiter or anyone really, is going to have committed a 2D structural diagram of THC to memory.

Keep in mind the recruiter is not your mom, s/he is really more interested in getting you in to the army rather than to exclude you. I wish you the best of luck and hope things go good for ya.